David Johnson Dalton
David Johnson Dalton passed away December 23, 2022 from natural causes. He was born January 18,1934 in Springville, Utah, the son of Oliver H. Dalton, a cattleman and farmer, and Jessie J. Dalton, a woman of the arts. His dichotomous upbringing had him both herding cows and playing the violin (found under a Christmas tree as an unwelcome surprise in lieu of a bike). His developing musical interests eventually took him to the Akademie der Musik in Vienna and the Hochschule fur Musik in Munich.
At the Eastman School of Music, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in violin performance, but his allegiance to the violin changed under the inspiration and tutelage of the great violist William Primrose, and Dalton was ultimately awarded a doctorate in viola performance from Indiana University. At Primrose’s invitation, Dalton collaborated with him in producing two books on the distinguished violist’s career and the technique of the viola, plus two film documentaries. Dalton’s own editions for the viola have been distributed by a number of international publishing houses. Together with Primrose, Dalton co-founded the Primrose International Viola Archive at Brigham Young University, the world’s largest and most significant repository of materials related to the viola.
Dalton’s professorial career was associated for 35 years with Brigham Young University. He greatly enlarged the viola program and was a founder and longtime member of the Deseret Quartet. He performed as well as a soloist and often in duo with his wife, Donna, a soprano. Among his conducting activities, he was music director for 12 years of the Salt Lake Symphony and inaugurated under its sponsorship over 35 years ago the annual Valentine Vienna Ball which continues to this day.
On a wider scene, Dr. Dalton was elected president of the American Viola Society, for which he was editor of its professional journal for 15 years, and was later elected president of the International Viola Society, which bestowed on him its highest honor, the “Golden Viola Clef.” This was only the second time in its 50-year history that the Society had given such an award.
He traveled the world as a performer, lecturer, and amateur photographer, who loved the earth’s beauty and diversity of cultures. Throughout most of his life, Dalton was a member of a number of conservation organizations and a supporter of environmental causes.
A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in numerous volunteer capacities including as bishop of the Provo Grandview South 14th Ward, and several times on the stake high council. He also taught, including in Primary. He served twice as a missionary for his faith: first from 1954-1957 in West Germany, and later with his wife from 2003-2004 in the Bern, Switzerland LDS Temple.
David married the multi-talented Donna Glazier in the Mesa, Arizona LDS Temple, on August 28, 1957. She was a dynamic equal and gracious hostess to many friends and associates who were frequent guests in the Dalton home. Together they raised four children: Alison Dalton (Charles), Chicago, IL; Melissa Dalton (Randall) Bradford, Frankfurt, Germany; Hilary Dalton (Tim), Dubuque, IA; and Aaron Dalton (Abigail), Provo, UT. There are 15 grandchildren and one surviving brother, Stephen E. Dalton, Salt Lake City, Utah.
David considered three of the most fortunate things that happened in his life to be his volunteer church service as a young man to Germany, where all things praiseworthy from that culture — Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart, Goethe, Schiller, Heine — would forever shape his sensibilities; marrying Donna, whose innate artistry inspired and whose singular work ethic enabled his rich life; and meeting and befriending deeply the legendary William Primrose.
Funeral services will be held in the Grandview LDS Stake Center, 1122 Grand Avenue, Provo on Saturday, January 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A viewing will take place the evening prior, Friday, January 6, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the same address. For additional information including the link to access the funeral, which will be live-streamed, please visit https://www.bergmortuary.com/.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Primrose International Viola Archive, Harold B. Lee Library, BYU, Provo, UT 84602, or the Nature Conservancy.
Recognition is gratefully given to physicians and their staff at Revere Health, and to Suncrest Hospice Care, specifically Danica, Christine, Charlene, and Nathan.